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Article in: Bird Conservation

Citizen Science – Magpie Monitors

citizen science

Sometimes, not seeing a bird (and reporting it) can greatly help bird population studies. The Yellow-billed Magpie is at possible risk due to the West Nile Virus and habitat loss. Citizen scientists can help if they live near the range of this California endemic.
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Although the Yellow-billed Magpie is common and conspicuous in the open oak woodlands of central and southern California, it is found nowhere else in the world. – Cornell Lab of Ornithology


Magpie Monitors (also known as Bicycle Bird Biologists) are dedicated to helping better understand the relationship between Yellow-billed Magpie populations and the West Nile Virus after a decline was noticed.

Helpful projects through Magpie Monitors include Point Counts four times a year, Adopting and monitoring a nest, and collecting feathers for DNA studies.

With the help of local birders, citizen science can preserve and protect this unique bird species.

2 Comments or Trackbacks   ↓ Jump to add comment ↓

  1. Mary Carlson says:

    Hi Birdfreak – I’m glad you pointed that out about the yellow-billed magpie and its dwindling numbers. When I went birding with an Audubon group last month, there were only three of them observed (in the Panoche Valley area). And that was an all-day birding trip and about a 30 square mile territory traveled. In reality, we saw more Phainopepla than we saw YB magpies.

    Posted on: February 14, 2008 @ 7:39 pm

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